Big Week Bilbao (Semana Grande de Bilbao) – is the main annual holiday of this Spanish city. It is celebrated for nine days, starting on the Saturday following August 15 (the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary).
The holiday received official status in 1978, although previously in August Bilbao hosted a variety of entertainment events – fairs, bullfights, strongman competitions, circus and dance performances.
In 1978, the government announced a competition for the best idea for the main city holiday. The winner then was Txomina Barulho's masquerade group. According to her project, powers in organizing the holiday were divided between the mayor's office and masquerade groups, each of which represents one or another area of the city.
In 2009, the Big Week of Bilbao was declared the main one of the ten wonders of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Spain.
Since 2001, the holiday begins with the launch of a rocket, as well as a public speech in the square of the Arriaga Theater. Usually the mission of the herald is entrusted to some famous city figure. In 1988, even a special uniform appeared for a person who would open the holiday. It is still adhered to today: a yellow jacket with a tailcoat, a black cocked hat with a plume, a white belt, white pants or skirt for every day and black for the ceremony.
The rocket announcing the start of the holiday is launched by a woman called «chupiner». Every year she is chosen from the fair sex of the masquerade group. On the occasion of the celebration, she wears a red ladies' jacket with epaulettes and two rows of gilded buttons, a black skirt, a red beret with an embroidered Bilbao shield and patent leather shoes with white stockings.
The official symbol of the Big Week is considered to be the Marihaia doll. She looks like a bbw with her hands raised to the sky in a dance. And an important part of the week – is all kinds of festive concerts and a fireworks competition.